New Delhi: Detention of climate activists justified, as Center justified on Wednesday sorry Pointing to his alleged inflammatory remarks and use of Gandhian principles as cover, the Supreme Court said too much was being read into his remarks.Deputy Attorney General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government would not review Wangchuck’s detention order on health grounds because he was “in good spirits”. Mehta said the activist was being cared for in prison and had a minor infection. The SC last week asked the Center to reconsider his continued detention.
Wangchuk compared with China, Pakistan provinces: Govt.Referring to one of the speeches, a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale said the activist himself was concerned about people resorting to violent protests and any conclusion would have to be drawn by reading the entire speech. Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj argued that the speeches and statements were intended to incite people to resort to violent means to protest against the government and he invoked Gandhi’s name and his principles to protect himself.The judge asked whether it would be objectionable for someone to say he was worried about people abandoning Gandhian principles and resorting to violence. As the government cited various speeches and interviews he gave in previous years, the judge asked it to mention only those leading up to last September’s violence. The Abu Sayyaf Group claimed that Sonam Wangchuck was trying to internationalize Ladakh’s domestic issues, making statements about referendums and plebiscites and comparing Ladakh to provinces in China and Pakistan. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the authorities to conduct a medical examination of Wangchuck by a professional doctor and submit a report to him. The activist is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail. Medical reports were submitted to the court at the last hearing. Wangchuck was detained on September 26 on charges invoking the National Security Agency after protests in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh.
